We
are a non-profit organization working in the most oppressive countries,
providing Bibles and literature, media, leadership training,
socio-economic development and ensuring prayer, presence and advocacy
for Persecuted Christians.

We
strive to raise awareness of global persecution, mobilising prayer,
support and action among the Christians around the world. Every year, we
publish our World Watch List which ranks countries by the severity of
persecution. Learn more about World Watch List and how Open Doors ranks
countries of persecution.

Open Doors USA - Serving persecuted Christains worldwideDonate now

Our Mission & Values

Core Competencies

2013 QUICK FACTS – OPEN DOORS USA

History of Open Doors

Brother Andrew's Story

Financial & Annual Reports

Persecution News

Christian Persecution

About Christian Persecution

Stories of Persecution

Theology of Persecution

Where Persecution is Worst

Pray

Prayer Updates

IDOP

Monthly Prayer Calendar

Take Action

Write

Bridgebuilders

Churches

Youth

Travel

China Experience

Join Our Blog Network

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Testimonials

Give

Where Needed Most

Deliver Bibles Worldwide

Muslim World Ministry

Gift Catalog

Planned Giving

Bible Sponsors

Online Store

Monthly Giving

Employer Gift Matching

Donate Any Vehicle

YOU ARE HERE

Home

Christian Persecution

About Christian Persecution

About Christian Persecution

Stories of Persecution

Theology of Persecution

Where Persecution is Worst

About Christian Persecution

"Everyone
has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this
right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom
either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to
manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and
observance." Article 18, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Christian Persecution

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION?

Christian
Persecution is any hostility, experienced from the world, as a result
of one's identification with Christ. From verbal harassment to hostile
feelings, attitudes and actions, believers in areas with severe
religious restrictions pay a heavy price for their faith. Beatings,
physical torture, confinement, isolation, rape, severe punishment,
imprisonment, slavery, discrimination in education and in employment,
and even death are just few examples they experience on the daily basis.

According
to The Pew Research Center, over 75% of the world's population live in
areas with severe religious restrictions. Many of these people are
Christians. Also, according to the United States Department of State,
Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their
governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in
the person of Jesus Christ.

WHERE IT OCCURS?

Map of countries, where Christian Persecution is the worst.

In
the United States, it's easy for believers to take for granted the
rights they so regularly enjoy. From praying and worshiping in public to
attending Sunday worship services, practice of one's faith is generally
accepted in America.

But
this isn't the case in many nations such as North Korea, Saudi Arabia,
Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mali, Syria, etc. in which religion, itself,
is banned or where one faith system is permitted and touted, with all
others being continually denigrated. The persecution is so severe in
many localities, Christians are systematically targeted and mistreated
because of their religious beliefs. According to The Pew Research
Center, The Economist, Christians today are the most persecuted
religious group in the world.

WHERE CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IS WORST

Every
year, we release our annual "World Watch List," a ranking of 50
countries that exposes the places Christians are most persecuted across
the globe. World Watch List includes individuals in all Christian
denominations within an entire nation.

INDEX OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN THE MOST UNFRIENDLY COUNTRIES

Index of Christian Persecution in the most unfriendly countries.

According
to this graph, the statistic shows the index of the persecution of
Christians in the top unfriendly countries around the world 2013. North
Korea is the country with the strongest suppression of Christians with
an index value of 87.The survey for the World Watch List included
various aspects of religious freedom: the legal and official status of
Christians, the actual situation of Christians living in the country,
regulations from the state as well as factors that can undermine the
freedom of religion in a country.

WHY IT OCCURS?

The cross (still standing) after the church in Cirebeum (Indonesia) was bulldozed by authorities.

AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS SEEK TO CONTROL ALL RELIGIOUS THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION

There
are variety of reasons why Christians are persecuted. One of the reason
it occurs, is when severe abuse of Christians takes place under the
authoritarian government. In the case of North Korea and other Communist
countries, authoritarian governments seek to control all religious
thought and expression as part of a more comprehensive determination to
control all aspects of political and civic life. These governments
regard some religious groups as enemies of the state because they hold
religious beliefs that may challenge loyalty to the rulers.

HOSTILITY TOWARDS NONTRADITIONAL AND MINORITY RELIGIOUS GROUPS

Another
reason why Christians are persecuted is hostility towards
nontraditional and minority religious groups. For example, in Niger more
than 98 percent of the population are Muslims and hostility comes more
from society than from the government. Historically, Islam in West
Africa has been moderate, but in the last 20 years dozens of Islamic
associations have emerged, like the Izala movement which aims to
restrict the freedom of 'deviant Muslims' and minority religious groups
like Christians.

THE LACK OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS

The
lack of basic human rights is another significant part of persecution
in some countries. For instance, in Eritrea violations such as lack of
freedom of expression, assembly, religious belief and movement;
extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, extended incommunicado
detention, torture and indefinite national service cause many Eritreans
to flee the country.

Freedom
of religion, like all freedoms of thought and expression, are inherent.
Our beliefs help define who we are and serve as a foundation for what
we contribute to our societies. However, today many people liver under
governments that abuse or restrict freedom of religion. Christians in
such areas suffer deeply, and are denied basic freedoms that humans
should be entitled to.

In
1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration came as a result of the
treatment of the Jews in Nazi Germany. The document states that every
person is entitled to basic human rights. This reaffirmed the dignity
and worth of all human beings no matter what a person's race, color,
sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social
origin, property, birth, or other status.

In
1966, the United Nations developed the International Covenant of Civil
and Political Rights in addtion to the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. Article 18 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political
Rights focuses on four elements of religious freedom:

Everyone
shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or
belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community
with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief
in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

Freedom
to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such
limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public
safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms
of others.

The States Parties to the
present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents
and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral
education of their children in conformity with their own convictions

The
Bible calls us to be advocates of human rights. Psalm 82:3 says "Stand
up for those who are weak and for those whose fathers have died. See to
it that those who are poor and those who are beaten down are treated
fairly." As Christians we need to see that all people are entitled to
basic human rights.

WHY WE SERVE PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS?

As
Christians in the free world, we are to take stand for our persecuted
brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a simple matter of compassion and
justice to speak up for the suffering (Zechariah 7:9, Luke 11:42,
Matthew 25:35-36). In following Christ's example, we are to show mercy
to those who are suffering, especially those in the household of faith
(I Corinthians 12:26-27).

Pray Alongside the Women of Laos

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Janelle in Countries, Stories

Laos*Representative photo used to protect identity.

Although
marginalized and looked down upon in some countries, women often have a
surprisingly important voice within their families. They're the ones
instilling values into their children, and husbands often take their
wives opinions into consideration. When a wife and mother places her
faith in Jesus, it can be a catalyst for the entire family. Getting the
gospel to women is such an important task around the world. In spite of
gender discrimination in countries like Laos, God is truly working
mightily in this area. Let's take a closer look:

Women
in Laos have always been considered inferior to men. Most of them work
without rest, on top of fulfilling domestic demands, only to constantly
prove their worth. In fact, as Buddhists, they believe the only way for a
woman to enter ultimate enlightenment is for her to be reborn as a man.

For
Christian women living away from big cities, life is much harder.
Because the government champions Buddhism, these women practice their
faith in the shadows. Once their faith is exposed, however, they are
stripped of their properties, disowned by their parents, and even beaten
by their husbands.

These are the stories of real women, whose names have been changed for their protection.

Onaona
loves her husband, Kahoku. She desires for him to know Jesus, but he
laughs at the idea of accepting Him in his life. Whenever Onaona tries
to share the gospel with him, they just end up fighting. Kahoku despises
Onaona's faith so much, that he reports her to the police whenever a
pastor visits their home. Pray that God strengthens Onaona and opens
Kahoku's heart to believe in the Lord Jesus.

Kina,
Laina, and Iwalani try to keep their families together. They invite
their husbands to church, and succeed at some point, but their husbands
go back to their old ways. They have become stricter, prohibiting them
from attending church activities without permission. Worse, they torture
Kina, Laina, and Iwalani who have declared their faith in Christ. Pray
for God's comfort for Kina, Laina, and Iwalani. Pray that their
testimonies will reveal God to their families, especially to their
husbands.

Dea
wants to attend church services, but her husband Mong, who's addicted
to alcohol and drugs, pushes her to work on Sundays. Dea cuts grass and
harvests from the fields while Mong gets further intoxicated. Ask the
Lord to give her strength to fulfil her duties as a homemaker while
learning more about God. Pray that Mong would encounter Jesus and be
freed from the bondage of his addictions.

One
of the reasons why Kena can't bring her family to church is poverty.
Her husband and children keep on convincing her that church is a waste
of resources, and that they are hungry enough as it is. Kena's salary as
a school principal has been delayed for four months. Pray for provision
for Kena and her family.

Jeanitha
is new to the Christian faith. She finds it difficult to fully let go
of the rituals she has grown up with. Sometimes, she still invokes
spirits and seeks advice from fortune tellers. When she loses objects,
or when animals in her care are missing, she consults shamans, or
witchdoctors. Some of her fellow Christians offer meals to spirits when
their loved ones die. Lift Jeanitha and those who share her struggles to
the Lord. Pray for God to give them courage and boldness to trust in
Him alone, that they may be redeemed from their old ways and be renewed
in Christ day by day.

Let Your Light Shine, Egypt!

Egypt

On
fire. Bold. Young. These are words that describe the current church in
Egypt. They are in love with Jesus, and desire to make His name known.
With its strategic geographical location in the Middle East, Egyptian
believers have the potential to be world changers in this unstable time.
An Egyptian Christian and father shares about his experience in his
local church, and how they specifically are changing Egypt with the
gospel:

On
December 31st, my family and I walked down a busy street in our
over-populated neighborhood to church. The atmosphere was festive as
many clearly identified Christians made their own ways cheerfully to
their churches. Everybody seemed happy and hopeful for a better year
that was about to start shortly.

Of
all the church services of the year, this New Year's Eve service is
usually the year's most attended service by Egypt's large Christian
community. Unusual security procedures had been taken by the police and
army forces, however, to protect the gatherings of Christians during and
after the New Year's Eve services. This was prompted after rumors that
radical Muslims were planning to attack churches and Christians that
night, in revenge for supporting the army leadership in the ousting of
former president Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood regime.

Yet,
the joy of the Lord and the cheerful atmosphere of the night did not
manage to completely eliminate my human weakness and inner hidden
concerns as a father and a husband. I wondered in my heart: "Is it
really safe to take my family to church tonight? What if a bomb goes off
outside our church? What if a crazy terrorist sneaks into our church?"

The
theme of the service that night was taken from Mathew 5:13-16. This
passage was announced to be the motto for our church in 2014: "You are
the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world…Let your light
shine!"

Half
an hour before midnight, Pastor Gamil* gave his last sermon of the
year. Pastor Gamil explained how needed our live testimony is nowadays
to reach out to our neighbors and colleagues who are increasingly
wondering, "Who is the real God?" He also gave some simple applications
on how everyone can live as salt and light in everyday life situations
on an individual basis, and also as a congregation.

Pastor
then surprised all of us with an initiative. He said: "Last week, I
visited our local police station to request a special permission for our
church to go out to the main road, set up a small stage and perform a
Christmas service."

"We
will sing Christmas songs, including some Bible readings about the
truth of Jesus, to proclaim the truth of God's love openly in our
neighborhood," he added. My heart rejoiced with the fact that my local
church is going to creatively reach out to our troubled community with
the love of God, and that we will openly reveal our identity as a church
that cares for the lost.

I
was then awakened from my deep thoughts by the pastor's voice
explaining a special symbolic activity that was to wrap up the special
service. Small candles were handed out to everyone. The church's lights
were turned off, and the elders slowly lit the first candles, as we all
shared our light with the remaining unlit candles.

"Shine
on me and my family, Jesus," I prayed. It was a wonderful spirit of
unity and love that gathered all of us together, seeking God's face to
lead us into the New Year, giving us the perseverance to live as
faithful witnesses, even if we have to continue to suffer to keep our
faith.

*Name changed to protect his identity.

God,
we thank You for the boldness You have gifted this church with. We pray
that they focus on You and Your purposes during this new year, and not
what their flesh cries out to tell them. We know, Jesus, that whenever
anyone steps out boldly for you, the Enemy attacks them even greater. We
ask for You to protect and guide this church as they engage their
community. We praise you for the work that has already been done here,
but we know there are greater things to be done in Egypt. We pray all
this in Jesus' holy name, Amen.

Alimjan Yimiti Physically Unwell

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Daniel in Stories

012114-china-odusaAlimjan
Yimiti, a Uyghur Christian imprisoned in China, is reportedly ill,
though his exact medical condition is unknown. The former house church
leader was sentenced in 2009 to 15 years in prison for allegedly
"instigating separatism and revealing state secrets." Those close to the
case maintain that he was imprisoned because of his Christian faith and
witness among the Uyghur people. They assert that there was never any
proof of wrongdoing, and that Yimiti, an agricultural worker, would not
have had access to state secrets.

Minority
Christians in the autonomous region of Xinjiang, where the Uyghur
people reside, continue to face ongoing persecution in contrast to some
easing for Christians in other parts of China. A Turkic tribe divided
into many clans, the vast majority of Uyghurs are Muslim, and each clan
strives to preserve its Islamic identity. According to a July 29, 2012
Open Doors (OD) report, prepared by the program coordinator for
minorities, says that Christians from ethnic minority groups in China
are caught between a rock and a hard place. "There is persecution from
one's environment," he explained, "especially family members, but the
government plays a part, too. What may happen is that minority leaders
complain to [the majority] Han officials, and because they do not want
any civil unrest, they may act against the convert."

"Christians
have to meet in small groups and in secret," shares the OD program
coordinator. "The government wants to uncover anything that is being
done in secret. For instance, they call on people to let them know when
they see people pulling their window shades during the day. These
measures target opposition groups, but also house churches. The
government wants to prevent any activity that may cause social unrest."

Prison
life has held many challenges for Alimjan, though he reportedly
generally does well considering the conditions. He is allowed to see
only one visitor for 20 minutes per month, as is customary in Chinese
prisons. Usually his wife, Gulnur, or his mother visits him. Gulnur and
the children have also faced numerous difficulties during Alimjan's time
in prison. Family members blamed Gulnur for Alimjan's imprisonment, and
she suffered from depression for a time, but fortunately it has lifted.
As the family's sole breadwinner now, she runs a small business. Recent
problems with a business partner have caused her a lot of additional
stress. Please continue to pray for Alimjan and Gulnur.

THIS IS ISLAM SHARIA! https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/1959619_450217268449574_410310219259088280_n.jpg?oh=36f55fad975807a3e7eae81e0fca4981&oe=54DF89BC&__gda__=1420973136_f8eb777d61256d82791f87bab4868f28THIS IS ISLAM SHARIA! https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=509913785811942 THIS IS ISLAM SHARIA!

stopyouporntubesatan's channel 53 iscritti I am King Israel Unius REI Chiedete ad Israele di costruire il 3° tempio ebraico a Gerusalemme: se ne è capace!!! I am a politician with a universal divine command to restore the Kingdom of Israel, to the blessing of all nations, that is why, it is called: "Kingdom﻿ of Palestine"

of IMF GOVERNMENThei 322 Bush, 666 Rothschild, etc....,___,[O.o] because, this year/)__) You not invite also me, at your "cremation of care"-"--"- Of Ritual Of The Bohemian Grove...............¸,.,¸..........._..'¹-~-¹-.But the﻿ fruit of the Spirit.....,-""-;\\/﻿ ¸,.,¸ ¸¸,'-...is love, joy, peace,